Prime Minister's Office
English rendering of PM's interaction with the Beneficiaries and Vaccinators of Covid vaccination drive in Varanasi
Har Har Mahadev
Greetings to all the people of Banaras from the sevak of Banaras! I greet all the doctors associated with this programme, medical staff, para medical staff, those friends and brothers and sisters who do the most important work in hospitals, maintain cleanliness, all the people associated with Corona vaccine and all those who have received the Corona vaccine. Though, I should have been among you during this time, but due to some circumstances, we had to meet virtually. But it is true that I always try to do whatever I can for Kashi.
Friends,
The year 2021 has started with very auspicious resolutions. And it is said about Kashi that the mere touch of Kashi turns good wishes into perfection. It is the result of this accomplishment that today the world's largest vaccination programme is going on in our country. And, 30 crore countrymen are being vaccinated in the first two phases. Today, there is such an atmosphere and tendency in the country that it is developing its own vaccines. That too, not one, but two ‘Made in India’ Vaccines. Today, the country's preparedness is such that the vaccines are not only reaching every nook and corner of the country quickly, but India is fully self-reliant in this greatest need in the world. Not only that, India is also helping many countries.
Friends,
The major changes that have taken place in medical infrastructure in Banaras and adjoining areas in the last six years have greatly helped the entire Purvanchal region during the Corona period. Now, Banaras is proceeding at the same pace for vaccination. I am told that about 20,000 health professionals will be vaccinated in the first phase in Banaras. Fifteen vaccination centres have been set up for this. I congratulate all doctors, nurses and medical staff for this entire campaign. I also greet the government of Yogiji and colleagues in all the departments.
Friends,
What are your experiences in Banaras? Are you facing any problem in vaccination? I have come among you today to find out all this. We'll talk virtually. I have not come to make any speech today. I think the feedback of Kashi and its people will be of very use to me in other areas. All kinds of people are here – those who have been vaccinated and who are also engaged in vaccination campaign. And I am told that the matron of Varanasi District Women’s Hospital, Sister Pushpaji, is speaking to me first.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi: Namaste, Pushpaji.
Pushpa Devi: Greetings to Hon’ble Prime Minister. My name is Pushpa Devi. Sir, I am employed as a matron in District Women’s Hospital for the past one year.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi: Good. First of all, I congratulate you that you are among those who have been vaccinated in the first phase. There was a time when people used to be scared of Corona. Now, I would like to hear from Pushpaji. I am also listening, and so is the country.
Pushpa Devi: First of all, I, on behalf of all my health staff, congratulate you for the Corona vaccines, because you have chosen the health department in the first phase for vaccination and I was the first one to be vaccinated on 16th January. I am feeling very fortunate that I have been vaccinated and I am feeling safe for myself, my family and society. Moreover, I am also requesting the nursing staff and the paramedical staff for vaccination and I am also telling them there are no side effects. I have no difficulty following vaccination. It is similar to any other injection. Therefore, my appeal to them is that they should also come forward to take the vaccine so that you, your family and society are safe.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi: It is a moment of pride for all of us for the ‘Made in India’ vaccines, but its success is due to millions of warriors like you and the 130 crore countrymen. Since you said you did not encounter any problem and there were no side effects, so can you tell with utmost belief to anybody that you had great experience?
Pushpa Devi: Yes.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi: Explain, Pushpaji.
Pushpa Devi: Yes Sir,
Prime Minister Narendra Modi: Can you listen to me?
Pushpa Devi: Yes Sir.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi: As you said you found it to be a routine vaccine, but some people have apprehensions. Since you are associated with the medical world and you have been vaccinated, please share something which should assure people.
Pushpa Devi: We need to assure people that it is a very important vaccine for them and they will be absolutely safe with the vaccines which have been made available by the Hon’ble Prime Minister within nine months. They should have no apprehensions and there will be no side effects and no harm will be done to us. Therefore, everyone has to be vaccinated without any fear.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi: You rightly said Pushpaji. Our scientists work hard to make any vaccine and there is a complete scientific process. And you may have heard, initially, there was a huge pressure on me, why is vaccine not available? When will you start the vaccination? In politics, so many things are said but I used to give one answer that we will do what the scientists say. It is not the job of the political people to decide. And as soon as the process was completed by our scientists, we said, "From where to start now?" So we first thought for those who work with patients on a day-to-day basis. If they become safe, everyone else in the society is taken care of. And after such a long period of difficult procedures and scientific investigations, when there are vaccines, we have decided to give priority to all those who are engaged in health care. Some people are also getting angry with me because they also want early vaccination, but I believe that first you should be vaccinated. It has been decided to vaccinate people in several phases. Vaccines have been cleared only after finding there are no side effects. Therefore, the countrymen should trust their scientists and doctors and people should feel assured when the people like you from medical faculty say this. Many many congratulations to you, Pushpaji. Be healthy and continue to serve.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi: Namaste, Raniji.
Rani Kunwar Shrivastav: Namaste Sir. I, on behalf of all the people of Kashi, greet the Hon’ble Prime Minister. Sir, my name is Rani Kunwar Shrivastav. I have been working for six years as NM in District Women's Hospital.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi: How many people have you vaccinated in these six years? How many people do you vaccinate in a day?
Rani Kunwar Shrivastav: Sir, we inject about 100 people in a day.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi: Then, all your records are going to be shattered during this vaccination programme, because you will have to vaccinate so many people that perhaps all your records would be broken.
Rani Kunwar Shrivastav: Sir, I am very happy that I am getting an opportunity to be vaccinated against a terrible disease like Covid-19. I consider myself very fortunate.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi: Then, people would also bless you.
Rani Kunwar Shrivastav: Yes Sir, I get many blessings. Along with me, people bless you more that the Corona vaccines have been launched within 10 months and people are also being vaccinated.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi: See, I am not entitled to it. First, you are entitled for this because you continued to work with courage, served the poor and the patients in the midst of uncertainties of carrying Corona back home. Second are our scientists who are our modern sages. Corona was an unknown enemy but our scientists remained steadfast and worked day and night in laboratories and today vaccines are the result of their efforts. Therefore, not me, but you all are entitled for this credit. I feel good that you are saying this with a strong belief. Please, take it forward and build the trust of people. My best wishes to Raniji. Thanks.
Rani Kunwar Shrivastav: Thank you Sir, Namaskar.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi: Namaskar, Doctor!
Dr. V. Shukla: Greetings, Sir. I, Dr. V. Shukla, Chief Medical Superintendent, Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya, from Varanasi greet the Hon’ble Prime Minister on behalf of my medical fraternity.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi: Yes, Shuklaji. What are your experiences? Are our people of Kashi satisfied?
Dr. V. Shukla: Sir, they are very satisfied. There is so much of enthusiasm in everybody. In such a short span, we, being a developing country, have surged ahead of the developed countries regarding vaccination. Our medical fraternity and health care workers feel proud that you have selected us first for vaccination. We feel proud and we express our gratitude to you.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi: I am grateful to you, but you people have really done wonders. I am reiterating this again and again that Corona warriors have a very big role in saving the country from this crisis. Yes, Shuklaji, tell us about your experience.
Dr. V. Shukla: Sir, the trust that you have reposed in the health department that these people need to be vaccinated first, has infused us with enthusiasm, and we are committed to our work with more zeal. It is also sending a positive signal to the people that the vaccines are completely safe because the Prime Minister and scientists have chosen first the people who are involved in saving the people from this disease for vaccination.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi: See, God has been kind to us that the poorest of the poor of the country have developed immunity to fight this disease due to various drives like cleanliness, pure drinking water, toilets that we are running for the last four-five years. These campaigns indirectly helped us as the poor citizens and the elderly were able to cope with this disease. As a result, the mortality rate is very low in our country. Cleanliness, toilets or pure water have helped a lot. Shuklaji, you are a leader, you have a very big team working with you and people from different layers are working. What is the confidence level of all the colleagues?
Dr. V. Shukla: It is very high. People are completely satisfied. Nobody has any apprehension. Before the vaccination programme, we had a group discussion and told everybody that we should tell society that it is like any other vaccination drive which has been on for several years and small side-effects like pain, fever, cold are common and it is not a big issue. And these issues may crop up after vaccination, but we need not fear. And, therefore, in order to clear any misunderstandings among people, we vaccinated staff of our centre on the first day and 82 per cent vaccination was done. It also resulted in self-confidence of the people and everybody is creating awareness regarding this.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi: Whatever we may tell people not to worry and request them for vaccination, but one word from the people associated with the medical profession leads to confidence among patients and the people. So, people might also ask you a whole lot of questions. How do you handle?
Dr. V. Shukla: We tell people that small side effects are common after every vaccination. Till yesterday, 10 lakh people have been vaccinated in the country and there are very few people who have developed any side effects. Whosoever has been vaccinated at our centre had to sit here for half an hour for monitoring and after that everybody was back to his work. The cleaning staff also resumed their work after vaccination. We also resumed our work. Those who are serious patients, who are suffering from heart ailments, or have breathing problems or cancer patients are also need to be vaccinated. If there is any mishap in the natural course, then it should not be linked to vaccination of the millions of people. This is a normal procedure and no vaccination ensures immortality and therefore, it is wrong to link that with the vaccination. It is absolutely safe because no pilot report has been done anywhere else in the world as much as it has been in our country. Ten lakh people are absolutely safe after the vaccination. It is a great privilege for us and we will also give a message to the world that such a huge vaccination drive against this disease has not yet been done in any country other than India.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi: Your self-esteem is so strong and your leadership is so powerful and as you have vaccinated so many people in your hospital, I would urge all the hospitals to decide how quickly the work of 100 percent is completed. Hold a competition and create an atmosphere that the second phase of vaccination can start early if 100 percent vaccination is done in our hospitals. We can start working immediately on those people who are above the age of 50. You deserve appreciation for vaccinating so many people under your leadership. But it will be of great help if other institutes and hospitals draw inspiration from you and vaccinate the maximum front line warriors. I congratulate you and your team, Shuklaji. Thanks.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi: Namaste, Rameshji.
Ramesh Chand Rai: I salute Hon’ble Prime Minister. I, Ramesh Chand Rai, am employed with Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Medical Hospital as a senior lab technician.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi: Have you been vaccinated?
Ramesh Chand Rai: Yes Sir, this is my privilege that I got this opportunity in the first phase.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi: Great. Then, the confidence of others would have also grown. When a senior technician gets vaccinated, it builds up confidence among others.
Ramesh Chand Rai: Very true, Sir. We tell everybody that now that you have taken the first dose, be prepared for the second one. Be safe; keep your family, society and the nation safe.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi: You took it forward with confidence. What was its impact on your entire team? Has the trust increased in them?
Ramesh Chand Rai: Very much, Sir. People are very enthusiastic and 81 people came for the vaccination in the first phase. Perhaps, 19 people had gone somewhere due to some reason. The drive is on at our hospital, Sir.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi: My good wishes to Rameshji and your team. Many many thanks.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi: Namaste, Shrankhlaji.
Shrankhla Chauhan: Sir, many many greetings to you. Sir, I am employed as ANM at CSC, Hathi Bazar, PSC Sevapuri.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi: First of all, many many thanks to you. Because by actually serving in Sevapuri, you are also making the name of Sevapuri worthwhile and making your family name worthwhile. This is a very noble service. When you serve during such crisis, it is priceless and it can’t be measured. The world’s largest campaign is being run by people like you. How many people have you vaccinated so far? How many people do you vaccinate in a day?
Shrankhla Chauhan: Sir, on January 16, 2021, I took the first dose of Covishield myself in the first phase and on the same day vaccinated 87 others.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi: Wow! You did so much work the day you got yourself vaccinated!
Shrankhla Chauhan: Yes Sir.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi: Great! Vaccinating 87 people is not a small thing. Then all those people must be blessing you.
Shrankhla Chauhan: Yes Sir. I also got myself vaccinated after inoculating all those who were on duty.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi: My good wishes to you also. I am sure all of you will be safe very soon because of your efforts and carry forward the work of vaccination to the rest of the society. Today, I got the opportunity to interact with you. I am pleased that I could meet the people of Kashi during the vaccination programme, could talk to them, and especially the medical fraternity who are leading this campaign. These are moments of good fortune for me as well. Once again, I will request the people of Kashi to get themselves vaccinated in the first phase so that we can move to the second phase where we can vaccinate people above 50 years of age quickly. I would like to request you as a sevak of Kashi that we accomplish this task as early as possible in Kashi.
Many many best wishes to all of you.
Thanks!
DISCLAIMER: This is the approximate translation of PM’s speech. Original speech was delivered in Hindi.